Leaders say this set is the most productive in the nation’s history
The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said in Abuja on Wednesday that the 7th Senate has been the most productive.
Ndoma-Egba stated this as the lawmakers proceeded on a six-day recess to mark the end of the 7th Senate’s first session.
“I think if we take session to session, from 1999 to date, this has been the most productive session so far,” he said. “We have recorded the highest number of bills passed in one year. The implication is that as the institution matures, we are becoming more efficient.”
He, however, expressed regrets that the Senate would not celebrate the end of its first session as a mark of respect for the victims of the DANA plane crash on Sunday.
The Senate, before proceeding on recess, received reports from seven of its committees on various public hearings, including that of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service on the pension probe.
No fewer than 10 bills were also read for the first time on the floor of the senate, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Alteration Bill 2012.
The Senate also confirmed the appointment of Ezekiel Adeniji as Chairman of the Board of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
It also confirmed the appointments of Ahmed Gusau, Idongesit Nkanga, Ubah Maigari, Olatunji Shelle and Samuel Gwomma as members of the board.
The appointment of Martina Odom was also confirmed as a member of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission; while Sara Alade was also confirmed as a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
A request by President Goodluck Jonathan to confirm Ekpo Nta as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was forwarded to the Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes for further legislative action.
The Senate President, David Mark, said that FERMA had serious work to do in the country, and expressed regrets that the last board was bogged down with several administrative problems.
“I hope money will be released to this board to work because there is no point inaugurating them if there is no money for them to work,” he said.
The Senate will resume plenary on June 19 to June 21, before proceeding on a retreat from June 24 to June 29. It would resume plenary again from July 3 to July 26, then proceed on its annual 2-month-long recess on July 27.
